1. The competition accepts problem-based research papers (hereinafter papers) that reflect the methodology, processб and results of the research project and correspond to age interests and cognitive abilities of participants. The subject of projects (papers) should correspond to the directions of scientific sections of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine departments.

2. The project must be based on scientific and experimental grounds and contain data from personally conducted experiments, observations, or research; the results of their processing, analysis, and generalization; links to relevant scientific sources; and reflection of the researcher's position.

The author of the project must clearly define the purpose, object and subject of research, tasks, research methods, differences, and advantages of the proposed approaches and results.

The author presents the content and results of research in a systematic, logical, and competent way guided by reason. The author should avoid abstract words and ideas, unsubstantiated statements, and tautology.

The project name should be concise and correspond to the essence of the scientific problem (task) that is being solved.

3. The author adds to the work the reviews of the supervisor and the review of an expert in a relevant field (science or education).

The supervisor in their review confirms the reliability of the project results.

4. The author must have two identical copies of the work. The first one is for the jury to use it during the distance evaluation, and the second one is for him/her.

5. The competition does not accept projects (papers):

• written on the topic and containing content that do not correspond to the focus of the scientific section;
• presented in previous years and without significant improvements;
• with plagiarism or other violations of academic integrity;
• which do not provide independent research, processing of sources, and
• conclusions on the selected topic; and
• without at least one of the necessary structural elements of the paper, edited and filled according to the conditions in chapter II of these rules.

The authors of such papers receive a review from the jury after the evaluation of research papers. They do not continue to participate in the competition.

The paper must contain the following structural elements:

• cover page;
• abstract;
• table of contents;
• list of symbols, abbreviations, and terms (if necessary);
• introduction;
• body;
• conclusion;
• reference list; and
• annexes (if necessary).

1. The competition accepts problem-based research papers (hereinafter papers) that reflect the methodology, process, and results of the research project and correspond to age interests and cognitive abilities of participants. The subject of projects (and papers) should correspond to the directions of scientific sections of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine departments.

2. The project must be based on certain scientific and experimental on scientific and experimental grounds and contain data from personally conducted experiments, observations, or research; the results of their processing, analysis, and generalization; links to relevant scientific sources; and reflection of the researcher's position.

The author of the project must clearly define the purpose, object and subject of research, tasks, research methods, differences, and advantages of the proposed approaches and results.

The author presents the content and results of research in a systematic, logical, and competent way guided by reason. The author should avoid abstract words and ideas, unsubstantiated statements, and tautology.

The project name should be concise and correspond to the essence of the scientific problem (task) that is being solved.

1. The author prints a paper in Times New Roman font (Word or Open Office), size 14 on one side of a white A4 sheet with 1.5 interval (up to 30 lines per page).

Margins: left, top, and bottom – at least 20 mm, right – at least 10 mm.

The paper has to be 15–20 (20–25 for humanitarian projects) pages. The body of the paper does not include an abstract, motivation letter, annexes, reference list, tables, and figures that completely occupy the page. The text of the paper should not contain spelling, punctuation, or stylistic errors.

The paper is written in the state language; for the project in a foreign language, an annotation has to be in the foreign language. Poster presentation and conference for sections of the department of linguistics (except for the "Ukrainian language" section) are held in the language of the section.

The author starts each part of the paper from a new page. Titles of structural parts have to be printed in capital letters according to the set: "TABLE OF CONTENTS", "LIST OF SYMBOLS", "INTRODUCTION", "CHAPTER", "CONCLUSION", "REFERENCE LIST", and "ANNEXES". Subsection titles have to be in lowercase (except for the first letter written in uppercase) with a paragraph indentation. Paragraph titles have to be in lowercase (except for the first letter) with a paragraph indentation.

The distance between the title (except for the paragraph title) and the text should be 3-4 intervals.

2. Numbering of pages, chapters, subsections, paragraphs, figures, tables, and formulas is given with Arabic numerals without the "№" sign.

All pages of the paper, including the cover page, annotation, and annexes, are numbered completely; the number is invisible on the cover page, but on the next pages, it is fixed in the upper-right corner of the page without a period at the end.

Only sections of the main part have to be numbered. Table of contents, introduction, and conclusion are not numbered.

Put the chapter number after the word "chapter", but do not put a period after the number. Start each chapter title from a new line.

Subsections are numbered within each chapter according to the rule: chapter number – subsection number. There should be a period at the end of the subsection number, for example, "2.4.". Write the title of the subsection in the same line.

Paragraphs in each subsection are numbered as follows: chapter number, subsection number, and paragraph number, for example, "2.3.4.". Write the paragraph title in the same line, but the paragraph does not necessarily have a title.

Do not use a period at the end of section, subsection, or paragraph titles.

Formulas are numbered in the chapter. For example, "formula (2.3)" means "Formula 3 of Chapter 2". If there are subsections, they do not affect formulas numbering. Formulas that are not referenced cannot be numbered. The number should be in parentheses and placed on the right side of the page at the level of the bottom line of the formula.

Figures are numbered within the chapter with Arabic numerals (similar to formulas and subsections) and noted by the word "Fig.", for example, "Fig. 1.2”.

Tables are numbered successively within the chapter in the upper-right corner above the table title. Use the inscription "table" with its number. The table number includes the number of the section and the sequence number of the table, and you should use a period between them, for example, "Table 2.3".

Annexes are designed as continuation of the paper on the next pages. They are placed according to references to them in the work. Each annex has to be on a separate page. It must have a title printed at the top symmetrically to the text. Annexes are named in uppercase letters in Ukrainian and denoted by the word "Annex", for example, "Annex B".

3. Writing a paper, a participant should refer to scholarly sources, materials, ideas, conclusions, and results that they use in their work. This approach allows one to check the given information. Participants should refer to the latest editions of publications.

If the author uses information from materials with a large number of pages, they must specify numbers of pages, illustrations, tables, and formulas from the source.

References to the source are marked with an ordinal number after the list of references taken in two square brackets, for example, "...in the papers [1-7]...".

If you need to refer to specific information, put the quote in quotation marks and put the source in square brackets indicating the number of the source in the reference list and page. For example, "...the acquisition of scientific knowledge involves the use of facts that characterize a certain phenomenon, development of a scientific hypothesis (theory) that explains a particular phenomenon, and pursuit of an experiment to prove the proposed theory [8, p. 37]."

The text of the quote must be accurately reproduced and given in full so as not to distort the author's ideas. Participants can skip words, sentences, and paragraphs when quoting, but without distorting the author's text and with an ellipsis mark. An indirect citation of the author is possible (retelling or presenting the author's thoughts in one’s own words) in the paper, while it is necessary to state the author's thoughts accurately and give appropriate references to the source.

References to illustrations in the paper are indicated by an ordinal number of the illustration, for example, "fig. 1.2”.

References to formulas are indicated by the ordinal number in brackets, for example, "... in formula (2.1)".

All tables of the paper should be referenced in the text, and the word "table" in the text has to be written shortly, for example, "...in tab. 1.2”.

If references to tables and illustrations repeat, you should indicate it with the word "see", for example, "see Table. 1.3”.

4. Place formulas in the paper after a reference to them. They are separated from the text by single intervals at the top and bottom and placed in the middle of the page. Formulas, if they are large and complex, are placed on separate lines. This also includes numbered formulas. Several small formulas of the same type are given in a single line separated by commas, and small simple formulas are sometimes placed directly in the text.

Hyphenation in the formula is possible only with equal signs, plus, minus, multiplication, and division with repetition of the sign on the next line.

Symbols and coefficients in the formula should be described below according to references to them.

The value of each character or numerical coefficient is given on a new line. The first line begins with the word "where" without a colon.

The formula number has to be on the right side of the page at the bottom-line level.

5. Illustrations are used for visual presentation of research results and their justification. In most cases, the following types of illustrations are used in papers: drawings, figures, tables, diagrams, graphs, and photos.

All illustrations are mentioned in the work. If the visual material is larger than a third of the page, it has to be in an annex.

The name of the illustration is provided after its number.

The digital material of the work is designed as tables. The word "table" is written in uppercase and italics and placed in the upper-right corner of the page. The name of the table is written in bold and placed in the middle, symmetrically to the text. A sample of a table is given in Annex № 2.

The headings of the graphs begin with a capital letter, the subheadings — with a lowercase letter if they form a single sentence with the heading, and with a capital letter if they are independent. Row height should be at least 8 mm. The column with ordinal numbers of rows should not be included in the table.

The table is placed after its first mention in the text so that it can be read without rotating the bound manuscript or by rotating it clockwise.

A table with a large number of rows can be moved to the next page. If you transfer the table to the next page, the word "Table" and its name are not repeated — write "Table continued” on the right and indicate only the table number, for example, "Table continued 1.2”.

Numbering of pages, chapters, subsections, paragraphs, figures, tables, and formulas is given with Arabic numerals without the "№" sign.

All pages of the paper, including the cover page, annotation, and annexes, are numbered completely; the number is invisible on the cover page, but on the next pages, it is fixed in the upper-right corner of the page without a period at the end.

Only sections of the main part have to be numbered. Table of contents, introduction, and conclusion are not numbered.

Put the chapter number after the word "chapter", but do not put a period after the number. Start each chapter title from a new line.

Subsections are numbered within each chapter according to the rule: chapter number – subsection number. There should be a period at the end of the subsection number, for example, "2.4.". Write the title of the subsection in the same line.

Paragraphs in each subsection are numbered as follows: chapter number, subsection number, and paragraph number, for example, "2.3.4.". Write the paragraph title in the same line, but the paragraph does not necessarily have a title.

Do not use a period at the end of section, subsection, or paragraph titles.

Formulas are numbered in the chapter. For example, "formula (2.3)" means "Formula 3 of Chapter 2". If there are subsections, they do not affect formulas numbering. Formulas that are not referenced cannot be numbered. The number should be in parentheses and placed on the right side of the page at the level of the bottom line of the formula.

Figures are numbered within the chapter with Arabic numerals (similar to formulas and subsections) and noted by the word "Fig.", for example, "Fig. 1.2”.

Tables are numbered successively within the chapter in the upper-right corner above the table title. Use the inscription "table" with its number. The table number includes the number of the section and the sequence number of the table, and you should use a period between them, for example, "Table 2.3".

Annexes are designed as continuation of the paper on the next pages. They are placed according to references to them in the work. Each annex has to be on a separate page. It must have a title printed at the top symmetrically to the text. Annexes are named in uppercase letters in Ukrainian and denoted by the word "Annex", for example, "Annex B".

Writing a paper, a participant should refer to scholarly sources, materials, ideas, conclusions, and results that they use in their work. This approach allows one to check the given information. Participants should refer to the latest editions of publications.

If the author uses information from materials with a large number of pages, they must specify numbers of pages, illustrations, tables, and formulas from the source.

References to the source are marked with an ordinal number after the list of references taken in two square brackets, for example, "...in the papers [1-7]...".

If you need to refer to specific information, put the quote in quotation marks and put the source in square brackets indicating the number of the source in the reference list and page. For example, "...the acquisition of scientific knowledge involves the use of facts that characterize a certain phenomenon, development of a scientific hypothesis (theory) that explains a particular phenomenon, and pursuit of an experiment to prove the proposed theory [8, p. 37]."

The text of the quote must be accurately reproduced and given in full so as not to distort the author's ideas. Participants can skip words, sentences, and paragraphs when quoting, but without distorting the author's text and with an ellipsis mark. An indirect citation of the author is possible (retelling or presenting the author's thoughts in one’s own words) in the paper, while it is necessary to state the author's thoughts accurately and give appropriate references to the source.

References to illustrations in the paper are indicated by an ordinal number of the illustration, for example, "fig. 1.2”.

References to formulas are indicated by the ordinal number in brackets, for example, "... in formula (2.1)".

All tables of the paper should be referenced in the text, and the word "table" in the text has to be written shortly, for example, "...in tab. 1.2”.

If references to tables and illustrations repeat, you should indicate it with the word "see", for example, "see Table. 1.3”.

Place formulas in the paper after a reference to them. They are separated from the text by single intervals at the top and bottom and placed in the middle of the page. Formulas, if they are large and complex, are placed on separate lines. This also includes numbered formulas. Several small formulas of the same type are given in a single line separated by commas, and small simple formulas are sometimes placed directly in the text.

Hyphenation in the formula is possible only with equal signs, plus, minus, multiplication, and division with repetition of the sign on the next line.

Symbols and coefficients in the formula should be described below according to references to them.

The value of each character or numerical coefficient is given on a new line. The first line begins with the word "where" without a colon.

The formula number has to be on the right side of the page at the bottom-line level.

Illustrations are used for visual presentation of research results and their justification. In most cases, the following types of illustrations are used in papers: drawings, figures, tables, diagrams, graphs, and photos.

All illustrations are mentioned in the work. If the visual material is larger than a third of the page, it has to be in an annex.

The name of the illustration is provided after its number.

The digital material of the work is designed as tables. The word "table" is written in uppercase and italics and placed in the upper-right corner of the page. The name of the table is written in bold and placed in the middle, symmetrically to the text. A sample of a table is given in Annex № 2.

The headings of the graphs begin with a capital letter, the subheadings — with a lowercase letter if they form a single sentence with the heading, and with a capital letter if they are independent. Row height should be at least 8 mm. The column with ordinal numbers of rows should not be included in the table.

The table is placed after its first mention in the text so that it can be read without rotating the bound manuscript or by rotating it clockwise.

A table with a large number of rows can be moved to the next page. If you transfer the table to the next page, the word "Table" and its name are not repeated — write "Table continued” on the right and indicate only the table number, for example, "Table continued 1.2”.

Poster should be vertically placed in A0 format. It is designed in Ukrainian (except for sections of the Department of Linguistics). An example of poster design is given in Annex № 8.

The poster must contain:

• the name of the territorial branch (region);
• title (name of the project, which coincides with the name of the research work);
• information about the author (surname, name, patronymic name (if any); full name of the educational institution; grade; location; surname, name, patronymic name, and position of the supervisor); and
• summary of the project (purpose and tasks, materials and methods of implementation, object, subject, results, and conclusions).

The recommended size of the title is at least 100 symbols; the text size is at least 20 symbols, line spacing is 1.5.

Drawings should be clear and contain captions; the symbols on them must be deciphered.

Sentences of the text should be short, specific, and unambiguous.

In the text up to 1 page (100-250 words), the author provides information about the main purpose, relevance, and objectives of scientific research, conclusions, and results of the work. One needs to explain the content of each section in one or two sentences.

In the annotation title, the author provides the following data:
research title;

• their last name, first name, and patronymic name;
• the name of the territorial branch of the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine;
• the name of the out-of-school educational institution;
• the name of the educational institution;
• class (course);
• city or town; and
• last name, first name, patronymic name, position (if available — scientific degree and academic title) of the supervisor.

At the end of the annotation, the author lists keywords that correspond to the content of the work and reflect the research topic. The number of keywords in the nominative case is 5-10. They are placed in a comma-separated line.

It is forbidden to duplicate in the annotation any part of the text of the research work (including introduction or conclusion). The following phrasings should be avoided: "the purpose of the work is", "the main tasks are defined", etc.

Motivation letter is a short (1-2 pages) prose text that accompanies a research project. It encourages the author to realize the goals of their work and interest in the study.

The letter fully tells about the following:

• the reasons motivating the creation of the research project;
• changes that the author wants to initiate with the help of the project;
• personal values; and
• the author’s view of themselves in the future.

Motivation letter is a structural element of research work that must be submitted at each stage of the competition.

The motivation letter should address the following issues:

• how the idea of the research arose;
• the stages of project implementation, the course of research, specialized courses in the field of research that the author engaged in offline and online, summer schools, other educational or scientific activities, trips, and expeditions the author took part in, experts who provided the author with information, etc.); and
• difficulties encountered in the process of working on the project.

The form of the motivation letter is prose and arbitrary. The letter begins on a new page, with an address to the jury members, and ends with the name, surname, and signature of the author.
Letters in poetic form as well as additions in the form of figures and tables are not allowed.